George Russell won the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix after a fierce battle with Max Verstappen, who ultimately finished second just one tenth of a second behind.
The Mercedes driver skillfully avoided numerous incidents during the race and took control from the start, building a gap over his pursuers.
Max Verstappen, who started eighth on the grid due to qualifying issues, made an impressive recovery by initially using medium tires before switching to soft tires during Safety Car periods, allowing him to close in on Russell in the final laps.
Despite intense pressure and several overtaking attempts, Verstappen was unable to gain the lead, finishing just behind the British driver.
The race saw six retirements, including Lando Norris (McLaren), as well as incidents involving several drivers such as Alex Albon, Franco Colapinto, Pierre Gasly, and Valtteri Bottas.
Isack Hadjar completed the podium for Red Bull, while Charles Leclerc and Kimi Antonelli finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Lewis Hamilton took sixth place, followed by Arvid Lindblad, Esteban Ocon, Ollie Bearman, and Carlos Sainz, who secured points for Haas for the first time since the Monaco Grand Prix.